10 Day You Challenge: 3 Films

Day 7: Three Films

Who can pick just 3 movies? I'll go with the three movies I have seen hundreds of times, but could still watch hundreds more.

10 Things I Hate About You (1999)

1990s teen comedy at it's best.The cast, the music, the story based loosely on Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew? I love everything about this movie. 

Dirty Dancing (1987)

I love sharing my birth year with this movie, I'm hoping it means a 25th anniversary edition will be coming out in 2012 for my 25th birthday. When I was a kid I loved this movie for the music, the dancing and the romance. As an adult I have come to love it even more for its subtle feminist/ prochoice message.  

Saved! (2004)

I can recite basically every line from this movie. Saved! is a must see- the story starts when born again high school senior Mary (played by Jena Malone) has sex with her gay boyfriend to "save" him, because Jesus told her to in a vision.

10 Day You Challenge: 4 Books

Day 6: Four Books

I took a three day hiatus from my 10 Day You Challenge. I'd feel bad about it, but I've blogged more recently than I had in the previous 6 months! 

I love to read. I always have, so picking just 4 books is so hard!

The Feasting Season by Nancy Coons

Nancy Coons was an American author who frequently lived abroad. She was best known for her travel books, and her commentary on a few NPR shows. She wrote one novel before her death in 2007. Feasting Season follows an American woman living in France with her British husband and children. She sets off to write a traditional travel book but finds herself in a whirlwind affair with her photographer and with french food and wine. I've never seen food described as sexy as it is described in this book. 

Escape by Carolyn Jessop (nonfiction)

I am absolutely fascinated by polygamists. This memoir was written by Carolyn Jessop about her life in the FLDS polygamist cult, and her eventual escape. At 18 Carolyn was forced to marry a man 32 years her senior, becoming his fourth wife. She endured abuse, and had 8 children in the 15 years it took her to build up the courage and resources to escape. I couldn't put this book down!

Yes means Yes! Visions of Female Sexual Power and a World Without Rape by Jaclyn Friedman and Jessica Valenti (nonfiction)
This book is both a celebration of female sexuality and a condemnation of the rape culture. The title, and the book emphasize a shift from victim blaming and making women the gate keepers of sex to a celebration women's sexuality and sexual agency. Yes means yes!


Good in Bed by Jennifer Weiner
Jennifer Weiner is my favorite "chick lit" author. I have read almost all of her books and I love them. Her heroines are always really easy to identify with. Good in Bed is where she got her start and one of my favorites. The story follows 28 year old Cannie through the aftermath of the publication of a story written by her exboyfriend entitled "Loving a Larger Woman".

10 Day You Challenge: 5 Foods

Day 6: Five Foods

Crabcakes from Stoney's  in Solomons Island, MD

I won't go into too much detail on this one as I've already discussed my love of crab cakes. My favorite crabcakes are from Stoney's Kingfishers or the Stoney's Pier, both on Solomons Island Maryland. 

 

Breakfast Tacos

 I like my breakfast with a Tex-Mex twist. Most people have had a breakfast burrito, or heuvos rancheros, or at least tried some salsa on their eggs, but my favorite Tex-Mex breakfast is the breakfast taco. They are a cheap and delicious staple in central and south Texas. A breakfast taco consists of some combination of meat, potato, eggs, beans, and/or cheese in a hand made flour tortilla with fresh pico de gaillo, salsa, or salsa verde. (my favorites are refried bean and potato or bacon, egg and cheese) The ones pictured above are from the Maria's Taco Express.

Pad Thai

I love all thai food, but sometimes I just crave the peanutty goodness of a warm plate of pad thai. 

Edy's Slow Churned Pumpkin Ice Cream

I wait anxiously for October every year so I can buy a few cartons of my favorite pumkin ice cream!

Bacon

I have seriously considered going pescatarian (no meat except seafood) dozens of times, but I just can't. Bacon is my one major hang up. And I don't care what my veggie/ vegan friends say, veggie bacon is not delicious.

I do not take credit for these pictures. All Images are from my pinterest page.

10 Day You Challenge: 6 Places

Day 5: Six Places

The Padre Island National Seashore

Growing up in South Texas meant most of my weekends were spent at the beach. My favorite beach was the beach at the Padre Island National Seashore. It has beautiful dunes, soft sand and warm water. 

The Boston Common

The Boston Common is a large park right in the middle of Boston.  I worked downtown the 18 months I lived here and would frequently go eat my lunch or take a walk in the Common to break up my work day. 

Seabrooke Island, SC

My family has never been the type to take a vacation, but in high school my mom, sister and I were able to piggy-back on my Aunt's annual family vacation to Seabrook Island, South Carolina. An island off the coast of Charleston, you may know Seabrook as the setting of the Notebook. It was awesome to spend a week  in August eating barbecue and going to the beach with my family. I haven't been since 2004, but I hope to go back someday. 

South Congress, Austin, TX

South Congress or SoCo is the main street of South Austin. It's home to lots of local shops, restaurants and food trucks. 

Saint Mary's College of Maryland

I went to a public, liberal arts college on the St. Mary's River in Southern Maryland. It is a really great school academically , with awesome traditions and a penchant for being a little wacky. More importantly it has a beautiful campus. 

10 Day You Challenge: 7 Wants

Day 4: Seven Wants

Anne Klein Carloew Riding Boots. Wide Calf in Cognac Leather. 

One of these for every state I've lived in. 

TOMS ballet flats ... They're coming out in spring 2012. Can I have them now? 

A West-Coast Road Trip with my BFF

 

A 1950s Inspired Kitchen

A Turquoise Ring

a Netbook to replace my broken laptop.

10 Day You Challenge: 8 Fears

Day 3: Eight Fears

(In no particular order)

1. General Anesthesia. I have never had a medical procedure that required me to go under general anesthesia, and I kind of hope I never have to.

2. Heights.


3. Snakes


4. Waiting too long to start a family. I have always known that I want a partner and children. I've also always known that I want the experience of being pregnant and giving birth. I have been feeling a little baby fever/ starting to hear my biological clock tick a bit lately, but I know that to have and support a family I have a lot of work to do in my professional and personal life. Since reproductive problems run in my family, so I worry that by the time I'm ready and find the right partner, I won't be able to get pregnant.

5. A Conservative win in the 2012 Election. I am scared not only of President Obama loosing his bid for reelection, but also of democrats loosing seats in Congress, the Senate, and in State governments.

6. That mistakes I've made in the past will haunt me in the future. I think this is a fear everyone has, for me it's mostly a financial issue.

7. Waxing. I've never waxed anything. I've thought about getting my eyebrows or bikini area waxed, but the thought of intentionally putting hot wax on my body and ripping out my hair follicles is terrifying!

8. Loosing my Grandmother. I am closer to my Grammy than anyone else in my family. She's the one that I call when I'm having a bad day or have big news. She's 69, obese, and works 50+ hours a week. I wish she'd retire and loose the weight because the thought of her not being there when I get married or have my first child is something I can't bear to imagine.

10 Day You Challenge: 9 Loves

Day 2: Nine Loves

 (In no particular order...)

1. Texas. Specifically central and South Texas. I lived in the Corpus Christi area from ages 7-14, and then I moved to Austin for 6 months following my college graduation. I consider myself an honorary Texan. I get really offended when people stereotype Texas, especially when they assume everyone in Texas is a conservative, white christian like George W. Bush or Rick Perry. Texas is a huge state and is very diverse! I love the food, the friendly people, and the relaxed attitude. 

2. Traveling. I love seeing new places and having new experiences. All of my travel thus far as been within the Eastern and Southern US, but I am planning to have a West Coast adventure in the Spring. I also hope do some international travel someday.

3. Going out to Eat. The only thing more fun than trying new foods, is trying them in the company of the people you love. I usually work one or two dinners out a week into my budget. 

4. Thermal Curtains. A few weeks ago I invested in a really nice pair of thermal curtains for my bedroom. They're super thick and they block out sunlight and drafts. I've nicknamed my bedroom my "cave of awesome". With my curtains closed and the heat on, I could stay in bed all day. 

5. Not owning a car. My favorite part of living in Boston is the fact that I have absolutely no need for a car. I can get to just about anything I could possibly need by walking or taking public transit. As someone paid a car payment and insurance every month for almost 5 years, not having a car is so freeing. I just pay $59 a month for my monthly T/Bus pass.

6. Fresh Seafood. One of the perks of growing up a military brat is that from the age of 7 onward I've almost always lived near the water and had access to delicious fresh seafood.

7. The Gulf of Mexico Coast.  As stated above, the bulk of my childhood was spent near Corpus Christi, Texas so I grew up going to Gulf beaches (and Gulf seafood). To this day nothing beats the warm water and salty breezes of a Gulf beach in my book.  As an adult I've fallen in love with New Orleans as well. I love the food, the music, the laid back attitude and the warm and inviting people.

8.Cardigans. Hands down my favorite item of clothing.

9. My Family. My family is small, and I don't get to see them as often as I'd like, but I love them just the same.